When the Tiftarea YMCA was awarded the Wal-Mart Foundation Innovation Award in May we had no idea how drastically our hearts would be touched by the Food for Thought program this summer.  The grant meant we would be able to help provide infrastructure and support to the existing USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).  The Tift County Schools have long operated this program during the summers to feed a nutritious meal at summer school to those children who qualify for free and reduced lunches.  The SFSP is designed to help feed those children ages 18 and under that truly rely on the school to fulfill their nutrition needs over the summer.

Over 5,000 children in Tift County alone qualify for free and reduced lunches. What happens to those children during the summer months?  We often have a hard time believing that a child in the USA could possibly go hungry.  After all we are a land of opportunity, the wealthiest nation in the world.  Most of us go day to day living a life where our needs are easily met and we can’t really picture a starving child except maybe the ones we see on TV ads for Africa.  The truth is that right here in our community there are children going to bed at night hungry.

While the schools have never turned away children for a meal, the problem is that the majority of children who really need that food don’t have a way of getting to the schools over the summer to receive it.  That is where your Tiftarea YMCA stepped in to help.  We put out calls to local churches and community organizations to meet and discuss the possibility of joining together to help feed our children.

Reverend Stephen Webb of First United Methodist Church used the story from Mark 6:30-44 to talk about how Jesus fed over 5,000 people with just one boy’s lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  He said, “When there is a need sensed by a few and each individual accepts his/her responsibility and gives their all, miracles can happen.”  The Food for Thought program is a great example of this quote coming to fruition.  Only 7 people were present at that first meeting, but we all knew hunger was a large issue in our community.  Each church and organization made a commitment that we would all do our part in helping meet this need.

The following week, we received an unbelievable response and commitment from over 17 churches and organizations to help transport and serve these meals to children at 14 sites for the entire months of June and July.  Almost 50 groups and organizations volunteered to run programming and provide prizes for children at these sites.  Wow!

Together, volunteers have served 34,105 meals right here in Tift County this summer.  Licia Nicholson, nutrition director for the Tift County Board of Education, stated “I’m just thrilled.  The Food for Thought Program has made a huge difference for the SFSP.  Before this year, the schools could not get food to all the kids who needed it.  Now sites are opened where the children can receive a nutritious meal right in their neighborhood.  It has made all the difference in the world.”

All of our eyes have been opened to exactly how much need exist in our community.  When Priscilla Bell, Y program coordinator, and I drove through Peterson Apartments to invite children to participate, I was amazed that the children were the most excited about getting fruit with their meals (peaches received more attention that chicken nuggets).  Have you ever thought that some children don’t have access to fruit for an entire summer? 

The food wasn’t the only thing the children needed.  Most children launched themselves into your arms for hugs and attention.  When asked had they ever been part of team sports or summer camps, there was an overwhelming response of not ever.  Together with several sponsors, your Y was able to provide children with the chance to participate in sports and see positive role models who encouraged them to dream big and do well in school to help secure a better future.  Larry Greene, Jr.,Philadelphia Phillies’ top draft pick, taught a baseball camp for the children.  Travis Williams, assistant coach at Tennessee State University, provided scholarships for children to attend his basketball camp. Erick Willis from the Tift County High School provided scholarships for kids to attend a football camp.  Jay Gaskins from the Albany State University Rams provided the children with a football obstacle course.  Volunteers from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College CAMP program, Jamhson Boliva & Raul Huapilla, conducted a soccer clinic with the children.  At each of these events we saw children’s faces light up with the realization that someone believes in them and with hard work and commitment they can become successful too.

Opportunities were also brought to participating children through the many presenters that visited the sites.  Issues of safety and what to do or expect in an emergency were taught by the Tifton Police Department, EMS, Fire Department, and the Emergency Room staff from Tift Regional Medical Center.  Children were taught how to plan healthy meals and use good nutrition to avoid diseases by the Tift County Health Department as well as nutritionists and staff from the Diabetes Learning Center at TRMC.  Exercise and its benefits were led by the YMCA Aerobics staff, PLIGHT and physical therapists from TRMC.  The importance of hygiene was discussed by UGA’s Strong African American Families Program, 4-H, and the Infection Control Department from TRMC. 

Life skills such as conflict resolution, anger management, good decision making, being a team player, and diversity appreciation were taught to the children by Tift Teen Center, Behavioral Health Services, Department of Family and Children Services, Ruth’s Cottages and Big Brothers Big Sisters.  Children were given a chance to experience music and introductory lessons on how to play the guitar by Harvest Studios. Literacy was brought to the kids by Literacy Volunteers of Tift County and First United Methodist Ladies Circle.  Books and blankets for the children to read on outside were donated by Brother Charlie’s Missions and the Salvation Army.

Art was also a program that the children enjoyed at each site.  The YMCA sent staff to do crafts with the kids that invoked thinking about choices you make and their consequences as well as appreciating your individual uniqueness.  Brianna Young from the Tift County Blue Devil Brigade and Ariel Rowe from ABAC performed puppet shows for the children and then had each child design their own puppet to encourage creativity.  Numerous volunteers from churches and the neighborhoods pitched in to help the children with art as well as lend a hand at the Y’s carnival days held at each site.

Presenters did a fabulous job of bringing opportunities to impoverished children who would not have been able to enjoy these experiences otherwise.  Each individual’s effort combined to make a miraculous impact on the youth of our community.  We thank you for seeing a need and taking the responsibility of meeting it.

“Food for Thought has been a true community collaboration,” states Jimmy Moore, CEO at the Tiftarea YMCA.  When we looked at scripture from John 21:15-17 where Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, Peter replies yes, and Jesus says all three times “feed my lambs.”  Churches in our county have taken this verse to heart.  Each church has come together with the YMCA regardless of denomination to work towards the common goal of feeding the children in the Tiftarea.

We sincerely thank the lunchroom staff from Eighth Street Middle School who prepared the lunches and all the volunteers who transported and served meals this summer: Beulah Hill Baptist Church, Fairhaven Primitive Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Chula, First Baptist Church of Omega, First Baptist Church of Tifton, First Baptist Church of TyTy, First United Methodist Church of Tifton, Housing Authority Tutor Camp at Dixie Avenue, Journey Church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church of TyTy, Northside Baptist Church, Omega Police Department, Mr. Robert Prince, Simmon Grove Baptist Church of Omega, Temple of Love Ministry, and Ms. Terrie Gordan (and the other parents from Dee’s Apartments who stepped up to continue Temple of Love’s work – where love is definitely contagious!). United you have answered Jesus’ call to feed His lambs.

This summer has shown what one community can do when we all come together to work towards a common goal.  What a blessing this program has been for not only the children of Tift County but the hearts of all who participated.  Great things were seen and achieved, yet our work is not done.  May we continue to join together and strengthen the foundations of our community.